Driver who got stuck on Offaly road in snow thanks locals for her rescue

A Waterford businesswoman who got lost in snow in the Slieve Bloom mountains last week has thanked the local people and gardaí for helping her out of her predicament. 

Georgy of Keepsakes by Georgy was on her way from Waterford to Sligo when her Sat Nav directed her a certain way, which she didn't realise was through the snow-covered Slieve Bloom mountains, which were impassable. 

This was the start of her early morning adventure. Once she was driving in the mountains, the road became impassable and she was stuck in freezing temperatures. 

Some local men came to Georgy's rescue, but she said she was originally frightened as the men approached her in the dark, in such a remote location. 

"It was very scary. It was dark, and I was lost in the woods," Georgy said. 

The men who were trying to cover themselves from the cold also were hard to make out, so understandably the stranded driver was a little nervous. 

"It was dark and I wasn't going to open my car door. I let my window down a little and they didn't look friendly until they opened their mouths and asked 'do you need help'. They told me that people often get lost," Georgy said. 

"The guy from the area said the Sat Nav always brings people up there," she said.

The local men, along with local gardaí, eventually got Georgy back on a main road and heading in the direction of Galway, and on to her conference in Sligo. 

Georgy later thanked one of the local men, Leo Brophy from Camross, who was one of those who came to her rescue. 

"It was a very important conference in Sligo so I wasn't going to miss it for anything," Georgy said. "Thank God I didn't have the kids with me, as it would have been so scary for them". 

Georgy was on her way to a conference to display her jewellery, and had samples with her in the car. 

Keepsakes by Georgy provides personalised DNA keepsakes. 

Georgy has been in Ireland for 17 years and works from home in Waterford. 

Last week, garda social media outlined: "Gardai in Mountrath assisted a driver, that didn't know the area, this morning when GPS sent them up through the Slieve Blooms."

They added that "the road from Kinnity to Killanure is impassable due to heavy snow overnight."